Binder



A. G. LOTTER March 1, 1938.

BINDER Filed July 18, 1956 Patented Mar. 1, 1938 UNITED STATES BINDER Adolph G. Lotter,

Stationers Milwaukee, Wis., Loose Leaf Company,

assignor to Milwaukee,

Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application July 18,

8 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in binders of the heavier and more massive type which have rigid backs to which the covers are hingedly joined. The backs of the binders are generally covered with leather or some other suitable binding material and have'legends and indicia delineated thereon.

In handling binders of this type, because of their weight and size, it is generally the custom to slide them over table and desk tops rather than to lift them bodily. Constant handling in this manner soon obliterates or wears off any printing on the backs unless some protection is provided.- The protection against this possibility isusually in the form of raised portions, called hubs. These hubs are spaced at intervals on the outer surface of the back, and serve to keep the back proper from contacting the surface upon which the book rests.

Heretofore, it has been the these hubs from heavy fibre erwise fastened to practice to buildup board, glued or oththe back proper and covered by the leather or other binding material the same as the rest of the backing.

Inasmuch as the fibre board of which the hubs were formed, is susceptible to being softened by the constant wear to which record books of this character are subjected, the back of the binder soon acquires a battered and worn appearance.

These objections could not be overcome by merely substituting other material for the fibre board, for if this were done, the leather or other binding material covering the same would wear even faster.

The present invention thus contemplates as one of its objects to provide an indestructible hub for binder backs, which is of sufiiciently neat appearance and so constructed as to obviate the necessity of a covering therefor either for protection or decoration, and enabling the same to be attached or applied directly to the outer face of the covered back.

Another object of this invention is to provide simple means for attaching the hub to the binder back.

Another object of this invention is to provide an indestructible hub for binder backs which may be made as a separate article of manufacture, to be attachable to the backs of binders as desired.

Another object of this invention is to provide a manner of attaching the hubs to the binder back, which in nowise complicates the assembly of the binder and follows as an incidental part of hingedly connecting the covers to the back.

1936, Serial No. 91,307 (01. 281 36) With the above andother objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of" parts, substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it beingunderstood that such changes in thepre'cise embodiment ofthe herein disclosed invention may be made as come within: the scope of thezclaims.

The accompanying drawing illustrates one complete example of the physical embodiment'of the invention constructed according to the best mode so far devised'for the'practical application of the principles thereof, andin which:

Figure 1 is a. perspective" view showing-part of a record type looseleaf binderandiillustratlng the" application of this invention: thereto;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the hub and its attaching member shown separate and dis assembled from the book; and

Figure 3 is a cross section view takenthrough Figure 1, on the planeof the line 3-3.

Referring now particularly to the accompanying drawing in which like'numerals designate like parts, the numeral 5 represents the back of "a conventional record type looseleaf binder having stiff covers 6 hingedly connected to the back asat 1. A body of leaves 8 is held in place between the covers by being impaled upon posts (not shown).

The hinge connections 1 between the back and covers consist of interfittingbutt portions 9 and I0 carried by the back andcovers, respectively, and through which a hinge pin ll passes. At spaced intervals, the butt portions 9 of the back are omitted to leave spaces along the length of the hinge pin.

The back, for the sake of protection and appearance, is usually covered with leather or some other suitable binding material, and-as is wellknown, generally carries some legend or indicia printed directly on the face of the binding material.

To generally protect the back and preclude wearing off of the printed indicia by continual contact with the supporting surface upon which the back rests, hubs I! are attached to its outer face at spaced intervals. These hubs, as best shown in Figure 2, are composed of solid indestructible material, such as hard rubber, fibre, or any other suitable substance, and have one wall l3 curved to fit the curvature of the outer face of the back. The opposite or outer wall of the hub is stepped so as to provide a central iii" protrusion l4, and flanges 15 at opposite sides thereof.

Each hub is held in place by a metal strap [6 having a central opening [1 through which the protrusion l4 projects so that the medial portion of the strap lies flat against the attaching fianges IS. The ends of the strap are bent inwardly and have loops l8 at their extremities which, like the butt portions 9 and H] of the hinge connection receive the hinge pins.

The width of the straps I6 is substantially equal to the length of the spaces left along the hinge connections so that the appearance of the hinge connections is substantially unbroken.

While the attaching straps themselves may be relied upon to securely hold the hubs against any displacement of shifting, positive assurance against such motion is provided by pins l9 rigidly secured to the back 5 and projecting outwardly therefrom to be received in recesses or holes formed in the hub.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, that this invention provides a substantial improvement in the construction of large record type looseleaf binders and that it adds materially to the appearance of such binders and insures a permanently neat appearance.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In 'a book having a stiff back and covers, hinges connecting the covers with the back, said hinges including pintles, a hub fitted to the outer face of the back, and means for holding the hub in place on the back, said means being retained in position by the pintles of the hinges.

2. In a book having a rigid back and covers, hinge connections joining the covers to the back and including hinge pins, a hub fitted to the outer face of the back, and a strap extending across part of the hub and having its ends attached to the hinge pins for holding the hub in place.

3. In a book having a rigid back and covers, hinge connections joining the covers to the back and including hinge pins, a hub fitted to the back and having an outer portion protruding out beyond an inner portion, and a strap overlying said inner portion of the hub and having its ends attached to the hinge pins for securing the hub in place.

4. In a book of the character described having a rigid back and covers, hinge connections between the covers and back including hinge pins, a protruding hub fitted to the back, said protruding hub having an outward protrusion projecting outwardly beyond inner portions thereof, and an attaching strap for holding the hub to the back, said attaching strap having an opening through which the protrusion of the hub projects and having its ends attached to the hinge pins.

5. In a book having a rigid curved back and covers, hinge connections joining the covers to the back and including hinge pins, a protecting hub for the back composed of solid indestructible material having one wall curved to fit the curvature of the back and having its opposite wall stepped to provide an outward projection and an inner flange, and an attaching band having its ends attached to the hinge pins and its medial portion overlying the flange of the hub to hold the hub to the back.

6. A binder of the character described comprising a back member, a cover, a hinge connecting the cover to the back member, said hinge including a pintle, means to protect the back member, and means attached to the pintle of the hinge to secure the protecting means in position on the back member.

I. A binder of the character described comprising a back, a cover, a hinge connecting the cover to the back, said hinge including a pintle, a hub to protect the back, and a strap attached to the pintle of the hinge to secure the hub in position on the back, said strap being so constructed that part of the hub projects therethrough.

8. A binder of the character described com.- prising a back, a cover, a hinge connecting the cover to the back and including a pintle, a hub to protect the back, means on the back to locate the hub, and a strap attached to the pintle of the hinge to secure the hub on the back.

ADOLPH G. LOTTER. 

